A Brief History
The Christian and Missionary Alliance began as a deeper life and missionary
movement initiated by Dr. Albert B. Simpson in 1887 to mobilize the under-utilized
lay forces and resources of the churches to "take the whole Bible to the whole
world." He believed that a life completely yielded to Christ was one in which
service to Christ would be of paramount importance. A person controlled by the
Holy Spirit has no choice but to be involved in bringing the Good News to others,
either as an overseas missionary or as a missionary at home.
The founder was reluctant to establish churches, preferring to call together
Christians with a vision to evangelize the world but who remained in their local
churches. However, the Christ-centered emphasis in teaching and the priority on
missions made many people unwelcome in their denominations, causing them to
form groups that for years were called "branches," not churches. By the
mid-1970s, it became clear that The Alliance was a denomination in all but name,
so with revised bylaws and constitution that reality was formalized in 1974.
Our history is rich in ministry. The cornerstone of our National Office building in
Colorado Springs is a visual reminder of our roots. It was first laid at the Gospel
Tabernacle in New York City in 1889.
Doctrinal Statement
1. There is one God,(1) who is infinitely perfect,(2) existing eternally in
three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.(3) ([1] Deuteronomy 6:4, [2]
Matthew 5:48, [3] Matthew 28:19)
2. Jesus Christ is the true God and the true man.(4) He was conceived by
the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary.(5) He died upon the cross, the
Just for the unjust,(6) as a substitutionary sacrifice,(7) and all who
believe in Him are justified on the ground of His shed blood.(8) He arose
from the dead according to the Scriptures.(9) He is now at the right hand
of Majesty on high as our great High Priest.(10) He will come again to
establish His kingdom, righteousness and peace.(11) ([4] Philippians
2:6–11, [5] Luke 1:34–38, [6] I Peter 3:18, [7] Hebrews 2:9, [8] Romans
5:9, [9] Acts 2:23–24, [10] Hebrews 8:1, [11] Matthew 26:64)
3. The Holy Spirit is a divine person,(12) sent to dwell, guide, teach,
empower the believer,(13) and convince the world of sin, of
righteousness, and of judgment.(14) ([12] John 14:15–18, [13] John
16:13, Acts 1:8, [14] John 16:7–11)
4. The Old and New Testaments, inerrant as originally given, were verbally
inspired by God and are a complete revelation of His will for the salvation
of men. They constitute the divine and only rule of Christian faith and
practice.(15) ([15] 2 Peter 1:20–21, 2 Timothy 3:15–16)
5. Man was originally created in the image and likeness of God:(16) he fell
through disobedience, incurring thereby both physical and spiritual death.
All men are born with a sinful nature,(17) are separated from the life of
God, and can be saved only through the atoning work of the Lord Jesus
Christ.(18) The portion of the unrepentant and unbelieving is existence
forever in conscious torment;(19) and that of the believer, in everlasting
joy and bliss.(20) ([16] Genesis 1:27, [17] Romans 3:23, [18] 1
Corinthians15:20–23, [19] Revelation 21:8, [20] Revelation 21:1–4)
6. Salvation has been provided through Jesus Christ for all men; and those
who repent and believe in Him are born again of the Holy Spirit, receive
the gift of eternal life, and become the children of God.(21) ([21] Titus
3:4–7)
7. It is the will of God that each believer should be filled with the Holy Spirit
and be sanctified wholly,(22) being separated from sin and the world and
fully dedicated to the will of God, thereby receiving power for holy living
and effective service.(23) This is both a crisis and a progressive
experience wrought in the life of the believer subsequent to conversion.24
([22] 1 Thessalonians 5:23, [23] Acts 1:8, [24] Romans 6:1–14)
8. Provision is made in the redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ for
the healing of the mortal body.(25) Prayer for the sick and anointing with
oil are taught in the Scriptures and are privileges for the Church in this
present age.(26) ([25] Matthew 8:16–17, [26] James 5:13–16)
9. The Church consists of all those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,
are redeemed through His blood, and are born again of the Holy Spirit.
Christ is the Head of the Body, the Church, (27) which has been
commissioned by Him to go into all the world as a witness, preaching the
gospel to all nations.(28) The local church is a body of believers in Christ
who are joined together for the worship of God, for edification through the
Word of God, for prayer, fellowship, the proclamation of the gospel, and
observance of the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord's Supper.(29) ([27]
Ephesians 1:22–23, [28] Matthew 28:19–20, [29] Acts 2:41–47)
10. There shall be a bodily resurrection of the just and of the unjust; for
the former, a resurrection unto life;(30) for the latter, a resurrection unto
judgment.(31) ([30] 1 Corinthians 15:20–23, [31] John 5:28–29)
11. The second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ is imminent(32) and will be
personal, visible, and premillennial.(33) This is the believer's blessed hope
and is a vital truth which is an incentive to holy living and faithful
service.(34) ([32] Hebrews 10:37, [33] Luke 21:27, [34] Titus 2:11–14)